Process for sanding the edge surfaces of lumber



J. E. MARSH 3,199,255

PROCESS FOR SANDING THE EDGE SURFACES OF LUMBER Aug. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 28. 1960 NVENTOR J. EVERETT MARSH MM .H .mi

Y- ha? ATTORNEYS' Aug. 10, 1965 J. E. MARSH 3,199,255

PROCESS FOR SANDING THE EDGE SURFAGES OF LUMBER Original Filed Sept. 28. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LUMBER SANDING HEAD SANDIN? HEAD SUPPORT F|G.9. FIG.8. F|G.7.

ROLLER PRESSURE ASSEMBLY SAND BELT LUMBER FEED lv T BELT L TRousH sANDms HEAD SANDING HEAD FRAME INVENTOR d. EVERETT MARSH BY y ATT RNEYJ United States Patent O 3,199,255 PRGCTJSS FUR SANDING THE EDGE F LUMIEER liniius Everett Marsh, Box 876, High Point, N.C. #Original appiica 'ion Sept. 28, io, Ser. No. Silti,

now 'Patent No. 3,992,935, dated .lune 11, 19K. B- vidcd and this application May 2l, 1%3, Ser. No. 282,@21

4 Claims. (Si. 5 326) This invention relates to a process for sanding the edge surfaces of lumber, and is a division of application, Serial Number 59,020, filed September 28, 1969, now Patent Number 3,092,936, dated lune ll, 1963.

It is an object of this invention to provide a process for sanding edge surfaces of lumber by feeding the lumber board in a lineal path, while an edge of the board is being sanded, and while the sanding surface is constantly changing, to effect. positive gradual sanding of the board edge from one side of the board to the other.

Another object is to provide a process ot the character described, wherein the sanding surface assumes a spiraling movement, for constantly changing the locus of contact of the sanding surface with the board edge, the sanding sur- .tace fading away trom contact with the board, everywhere but at the point of sanding.

Another object is to provide a process for sanding lumber with a sanding surface, by moving the sanding surface at an angle to the lumber board, to efect sanding engagement with the lumber across the entire width of the sanding surface, at an angle to the grain of the lumber.

@ther objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description of the present process, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

lflG. l is a top plan view of apparatus which may be used in carrying out the process of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of FIG. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a sand belt, feed belt, and pressure rollers employed in the present process;

FIG. 4 is a schematic View illustrating the contour of the sanding head employed to carry out the present process;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View of a piece of wood, one edge of which has been sanded in accordance with the present process, the arrows indicating the points of sanding en gagernent with the wood;

FIG, 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a sanding head and sand belt for carrying out the present process, and showing to advantage, by means of arrows, the path of the work to be sanded longitudinally and transver ely of the belt;

FIG. 7 is a section View taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing to advantage the initial point of Contact of the material with the sand belt and sanding head;

FIG. 8 is a similar view taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the progressive sanding of the edge of the material;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, and is taken along the lines 9 9 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrates a further sanding progression;

ice

FIG. l0 is a view similar to FIG. 9, taken along the lines 1? lti of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating still further progressive sanding of the material edge; and

FIG. ll is a view similar to FIG. l0, taken along the lines M il of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the final step in sanding the edge of the work.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention, the lumber to be sanded may be carried on a feed belt towards the sanding surface, as shown in FIGS. l to 3. A roller pressure assembly engages the upper face of the lumber to prevent lateral displacement of the lumber but permitting free longitudinal movement with the feed belt. An equalization unit permits independent vertical movement of either end of the roller pressure assembly to compensate for variations in thickness of the lumber.

lateral edge of the lumber is fed into sanding engagement with an endless sand belt which travels in a generally semi-elliptical path at an angle to the path of movement of the lumber, the rear face of the belt being trained against, and assuming the contour of, a sinuous sand head, at the locus of Contact of the belt with the lumber.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to il, it will be seen that as the sand belt is fed against the sinuous sanding head, a spiraling movement of the sand belt occurs, causing point contact of the latter with the edge of the lumber. T his results in sanding engagement of the sand belt with an edge of the lumber board, across the width of the belt, the belt progressively sanding the edge from one side of the face to the other, to produce the desired sand-ing edect 4in Ia continuous sanding operation.

In FIG. 4 there is schematically shown, a sanding head of spiral or sinuous form for carrying out the present process, order to obtain the edge contour illustrated in FG. 5. It will be apparent from a consideration of this schematic showing that, as the lumber to be sanded moves diagonally across the sanding surface, from the lower right hand corner to the upper left hand corner, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6, point Contact of the spiraling surface with the edge surface of the lumber, from one Side to the other, is gradually effected.

FIG. 5 depicts the riished sanded edge of lumber after sanding in accordance with the present invention. Arrows A, B, C, D, and E designate the points of contact of the sand belt with the lumber in the sanding steps illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, l0 and ll respectively. Optimum results are obtained by use of a six inch sand belt, driven at approximately a twenty degree (26) angle to the feed belt` Sanding is thereby elfected across the entire width or" the sand belt thereby prolonging the life thereof indefinitely. This angular relationship further sands the lumber at an angle to the grain thereof, rather than with the grain. A wider belt positioned at a greater angle to the feed belt can be used for producing different lumber edge contours.

With the process of the present invention, sanding of the edge surfaces of lumber is accurately and expeditiously effected, with the result that uniform sanding of the lumber is obtained.

While there has been herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that various changes may be U made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope or" the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A process for sanding the edge surfaces of lumber, comprising feeding a lumber board in a lineal path to bring a marginal edge thereof into contact with a moving sanding surface, spiraling the moving sanding surface, and constantly changing the locus of contact of the spiraling sanding surface with the board edge, t0v eifect gradual sanding to produce a curved surface of said board edge from one side of the lumber board t0 the other. l

2. The process of claim 1, with the additional step of moving said sanding surface at an angle to the lineal path of the lumber board, to effect sanding engagement with the latter. across the entire Width of said sanding surface, at an angle to the grain of the lumber.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the direction of movement of said sanding surface is at approximately a A 20 angle to the lineal pathy of the lumber board, 'at the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,717 3/00 Fletcher 51--141 1,082,670 12/13 Wysong 51-141 1,415,785 5/22 yBrown 51-141 1,935,660 11/33 Norton 51-138 2,261,614 ll/41 Buckley 51-135 2,651,150

9/53 Y De Florez et al 5l--138 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR SANDING THE EDGE SURFACES OF LUMBER, COMPRISING FEEDING A LUMBER BOARD IN A LINEAL PATH TO BRING A MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF INTO CONTACT WITH A MOVING SANDING SURFACE, SPIRALING THE MOVING SANDING SURFACE, AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE LOCUS OF CONTACT OF THE SPIRALING SANDING SURFACE WITH THE BOARD EDGE, TO EFFECT GRADUAL SANDING TO PRODUCE A CURVED SURFACE OF SAID BOARD EDGE FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LUMBER BOARD TO THE OTHER. 